A Nation Repays Its Debt: A Nation Repays Its Debt: The National Soldiers' The National Soldiers' Home and Cemetery in Home and Cemetery in

Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio

Describe what you see in the photo. Describe what you see in the photo. What might be the reason for this What might be the reason for this

particular layout?particular layout?

More than 3.2 million soldiers are estimated to More than 3.2 million soldiers are estimated to have served in the Civil War: 2.2 million Union have served in the Civil War: 2.2 million Union soldiers and approximately 1 million soldiers and approximately 1 million Confederates. Of these, the death toll reached Confederates. Of these, the death toll reached approximately 364,000 Union soldiers and approximately 364,000 Union soldiers and 133,821 Confederate soldiers.¹ When the war 133,821 Confederate soldiers.¹ When the war ended, the graves of the nearly a half million ended, the graves of the nearly a half million Union and Confederate soldiers who died in Union and Confederate soldiers who died in action, or of wounds and disease lacked official action, or of wounds and disease lacked official recognition. Meanwhile, approximately 2.7 million recognition. Meanwhile, approximately 2.7 million veterans began to return home.veterans began to return home.

On July 17, 1862, President Abraham On July 17, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation that created the Lincoln signed legislation that created the National Cemetery system. By 1870, National Cemetery system. By 1870, nearly 300,000 Union soldiers were nearly 300,000 Union soldiers were interred in 73 national cemeteries, many interred in 73 national cemeteries, many of which were located on or near of which were located on or near battlefields. At that time, approximately battlefields. At that time, approximately 58% of these soldiers' graves were of 58% of these soldiers' graves were of known soldiers and the remaining 42% known soldiers and the remaining 42% more were marked as unknowns. more were marked as unknowns.

How many cemeteries were How many cemeteries were established in the first nine years established in the first nine years after President Lincoln signed after President Lincoln signed legislation creating the system? legislation creating the system?

Soldiers' Home cemeteries still provide Soldiers' Home cemeteries still provide their valuable service today, providing a their valuable service today, providing a final resting place for veterans. final resting place for veterans. Approximately 800 burials are made Approximately 800 burials are made annually, and the cemetery is slated to annually, and the cemetery is slated to remain open to burials until 2018.5 The remain open to burials until 2018.5 The Veterans Administration (VA) assumed Veterans Administration (VA) assumed oversight of the cemetery in 1930. In oversight of the cemetery in 1930. In 1973, it was granted National Cemetery 1973, it was granted National Cemetery status. Today it is operated by the status. Today it is operated by the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of National Cemetery Administration (NCA) of the VA.the VA.

Who manages the cemetery in Who manages the cemetery in Dayton today? When was it granted Dayton today? When was it granted "National Cemetery" status? "National Cemetery" status?

BivouacBivouac

:: a usually temporary encampment a usually temporary encampment under little or no shelterunder little or no shelter

2 a:2 a: encampment usually for a night encampment usually for a night b:b: a temporary or casual shelter or a temporary or casual shelter or

lodging lodging

A Bivouac FireA Bivouac Fire

"Bivouac of the Dead" by Theodore "Bivouac of the Dead" by Theodore O'Hara O'Hara

The muffled drum's sad roll has beatThe soldier's last tattoo;

No more on life's parade shall meetThat brave and fallen few.

On Fame's eternal camping-groundTheir silent tents are spread,

And Glory guards, with solemn round,

The bivouac of the dead.

What IMAGRY do you see?What IMAGRY do you see?

On Fame's eternal camping-groundTheir silent tents are spread,

And Glory guards, with solemn round,

The bivouac of the dead.

Stanza 2Stanza 2

No rumor of the foe's advanceNo rumor of the foe's advanceNow swells upon the wind;Now swells upon the wind;

No troubled thought at midnight No troubled thought at midnight hauntshaunts

Of loved ones left behind;Of loved ones left behind;No vision of the morrow's strifeNo vision of the morrow's strife

The warrior's dream alarms;The warrior's dream alarms;No braying horn nor screaming fifeNo braying horn nor screaming fife

At dawn shall call to arms. At dawn shall call to arms.

Where is this stanza describing?Where is this stanza describing?

Stanza 11Stanza 11

Rest on, embalmed and sainted Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead!dead!

Dear as the blood ye gave;Dear as the blood ye gave;No impious footstep shall here treadNo impious footstep shall here tread

The herbage of your grave;The herbage of your grave;Nor shall your glory be forgotNor shall your glory be forgotWhile fame her records keeps,While fame her records keeps,

Or Honor points the hallowed spotOr Honor points the hallowed spotWhere Valor proudly sleeps. Where Valor proudly sleeps.

Where does “valor proudly sleep”?Where does “valor proudly sleep”?

Dayton Soldiers MemorialDayton Soldiers Memorial

Detail of Dayton Soldiers Memorial Detail of Dayton Soldiers Memorial

Honoring our VeteransHonoring our Veterans

This assignment is designed to give This assignment is designed to give thanks to our veterans for their thanks to our veterans for their dedication to freedom and defending dedication to freedom and defending our country.our country.

Memorial DayMemorial Day Traditional: May 30 Traditional: May 30 Observed: last Monday of MayObserved: last Monday of May

With Memorial Day coming up this is With Memorial Day coming up this is a perfect time for us as a class to a perfect time for us as a class to honor our veterans and give them honor our veterans and give them thanks.thanks.

There are many ways to give thanks; There are many ways to give thanks; you may choose one of the following you may choose one of the following options to honor our veterans.options to honor our veterans.

Think back to the poem "Bivouac of the Dead" by Think back to the poem "Bivouac of the Dead" by Theodore O'Hara; Theodore O'Hara;

You may write a poem or song to honor You may write a poem or song to honor them.them.

Think back to the photos of the memorial of Think back to the photos of the memorial of the soldier.the soldier.

You may design a memorial.You may design a memorial.

Design, color and write a “Thank Design, color and write a “Thank you” card to a veteran.you” card to a veteran.

Write a letter to a veteran thanking Write a letter to a veteran thanking him or her for their service.him or her for their service.